DEDI strategy 2011-2013

CORPORATE STRATEGY DANISH-EGYPTIAN DIALOGUE INSTITUTE

VISION DEDI promotes understanding and dismantles stereotypes between cultures and people. DEDI strengthens relations between Denmark and Egypt and between Europe and the Arab World by expanding professional networks across the Mediterranean and by countering prejudice and misinformation in the media. Through cutting edge analysis of hands-on experience with intercultural meetings, DEDI bolsters the global efforts to build bridges between cultures.

MISSION DEDI´s mission is to strengthen the dialogue and network formation between Denmark, Egypt, Europe and the rest of the Arab world. DEDI: -

maintains, strengthens, and expands the network of Arab-European professional contacts;

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develops and disseminates expertise in cross-cultural dialogue and networking to the benefit of cross-cultural endeavors internationally;

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Provides a window for mutual understanding and cooperation for the populations in Europe and the Arab world.

TARGET GROUPS DEDI is a resource for European and Arab professional partners. This implies that all organisations and individuals who engage in a professional working relationship between Egypt and Denmark as well as between Europe and the Arab world, whether private or public, can solicit advice, media support and general facilitation from DEDI. The main beneficiaries of DEDI’s services include: Professional partners receiving Danish or Egyptian government funding for Danish-Egyptian or Danish-Arab partnerships as well as journalists from Denmark and the Arab world who will be invited to participate in capacity building and journalist trips.

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Partners receiving funding from other governments are private sector companies or other privately funded initiatives, may also be beneficiaries in accordance with national legislations, but in general will have to pay for the services provided.

APPROACH TO INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE ➢ Intercultural dialogue and cross-cultural professional relationships are mutually reinforcing. Increased understanding through dialogue strengthens professional relationships. Professional relationships motivate and give immediate purpose to the dialogue. ➢ Intercultural dialogue is defined as an interaction in which interlocutors from different cultures engage with the purpose of seeking insight into each others’ values, ensuring dignity of all cultures and peoples, promoting mutual understanding and respect of each other’s values, perspectives, world views, experiences etc. Interlocutors may disagree profoundly, but the primary purpose will not be to convey and convince, but to understand and reflect. ➢ Intercultural dialogue is a window to the world, which provides mutual understanding instead of misinformation and distorted perceptions.

Intercultural dialogue and understanding should be broad based and not remain an exclusively academic endeavor.

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ANNEX ONE: GOALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR DEDI 2011-2013 DEDI’s mission is pursued through working towards three immediate goals: Goal 1: Arab - Danish relations maintained, strengthened and expanded DEDI is a resource and a facilitator for professional Danish, Egyptian, European and Arab organisations and individuals who engage in cross-cultural activities.

Overall, the achievement of this goal will be monitored by an annual evaluation form, filled in by the main users of DEDI’s networking services, followed by an annual meeting between DEDI and its users to discuss the evaluation, which could enable DEDI to better plan its next activities.

Activities which are designed to produce the above-mentioned goals: -

Capacity building arrangements for current and potential professional partners in Denmark, Egypt and the other countries of the Arab world on relevant socio-political, historical and cultural aspects well as on intercultural skills in these countries. o Benchmark: 2-3 summer and 2-3 winter schools (groups of youth engaged in organizations learn about Denmark and Egypt respectively) annually with an average of 20 participants in each are positively evaluated by participants. (Objective verifiable indicators (OVI) - Number of participants and evaluations of user satisfaction. Source of verification.

Reports from arrangements).

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Networking activities for former, current and potential professional partners in Denmark, Egypt, Europe and the Arab world, e.g. annual thematic conferences and the development of virtual networking facilities. o Benchmark: 2 events in year one and 4 in year two and three. An evaluation by e-mail will be conducted annually

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Provide practical support, e.g. relevant contacts, ad hoc advice, meeting facilities etc. to organisations and individuals engaged or aspiring to engage in professional cross-cultural activities. o Benchmark: 7 of DAPP’s partnerships solicit services from DEDI in year one and 14 in year two and three. At least one example that service is solicited from other actors (e.g. private companies) as well in year two.

Positive evaluations by users.

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Serve as initiator for new cross-cultural activities through supporting contacts and initial discussions between potential new Danish, Egyptian, European and Arab professional partners.

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Benchmark: 2 incubator projects in year one and 4 in year two and three with DAPP or other partners.

Goal 2: Expertise in intercultural dialogue developed and disseminated DEDI strives to become a facilitating center of excellence for intercultural dialogue and networking.

Overall monitoring of this process would be done through an annual comprehensive report from DEDI on the findings and results from the dialogue research.

Activities which are designed to produce the above-mentioned goals: -

Collect and analyse lessons learned and best practices from existing dialogue or networking activities. o Benchmark: In year one 4 dialogue initiatives and in year two and three 6 dialogue initiatives will be analysed.

- Follow international developments in research and field work related to cross-cultural dialogue in Egypt, Denmark, the Arab world and Europe, inter alia through regular contacts with organisations with related mandates, relevant researchers, participation in international conferences etc. o Benchmark: Participation in at least 2 international events concerning dialogue. DEDI maintains working relations to all major international organisations involved in dialogue by the end of year two.

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Initiating experimental intercultural dialogue activities in order to test methods and provide cutting edge to the field of intercultural dialogue. o Benchmark: 2 experiments initiated in year one and 4 in year two and three.

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Communicating lessons learned and best practices as well as research findings relevant to intercultural dialogue and networking to individuals and organisations engaged in cross-cultural activities in Europe and the Arab world. o Benchmark: All analytical results disseminated in a popular accessible form and accessible on DEDI website. Results presented at international events such as the Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations 4

Goal 3: DEDI provides a public window for mutual understanding and dialogue DEDI seeks broader popular engagement in Danish/Egyptian and Arab/European networking and dialogue activities and strives to present a vision of intercultural understanding to the general public in Denmark, Egypt and to the extent possible also in Europe and the Arab world.

Overall monitoring of this objective will be through an annual report on DEDI’s communication activities, which will measure the benchmarks for the following activities: - Maintain relations with Danish/ Egyptian and European/ Arab media and social media. Feeding stories, information or lessons of best practices to relevant media outlets about cross-cultural dialogue and relations building and other stories which serve to remove mutual misconceptions and provide constructive message to the media coverage of Denmark, Egypt in the Arab world and vice versa. o Benchmark: One story fed weekly on average on each of Egypt and Denmark and one story reported on by media every second week in Arab and Danish media.

- Arrange mutual journalist visits to Denmark and the Arab world. o Benchmark: Minimum 2 visits annually (in Denmark and Egypt respectively) with an average of 8 participants resulting in at least one media item (article, Radio-, TV-programme or similar) from each participant. Positive evaluation of visits by participants.

- Arrange capacity building arrangements for journalists in Denmark and the Arab world on relevant socio-political, historical and cultural aspects of Denmark, Egypt, Europe and other Arab countries. o Benchmark: 2 events annually with each 20 participants.

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Provide media advice and training for individuals and organisations engaged in cross-cultural activities between Denmark and the Arab world in order to enhance their impact on local media. o Benchmark: All major Danish and Arab partner organisations soliciting advice or training have received assistance in a timely manner.

Evaluations by participants are positive.

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- Arrange popular events or outreach activities to youth and other central target groups particularly grass roots and media in Denmark, Egypt, Europe and the Arab world, exposing examples of dialogue and relations building. o Benchmark: 3 events or outreach activities annually. Evaluations of effect on target groups positive. Web-media expanded and developed.

- Participation in the public debate in Denmark, Egypt and internationally, related to cross-cultural relations, understanding and dialogue. o Benchmark: The Director or other key DEDI staff has appeared at public events monthly.

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